Rosemarie Pedranzini

Longtime Sonoma resident Rosemarie Pedranzini passed away peacefully April 30, 2022 at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco of complications from a stroke. She was a day shy of her 86th birthday.

Rosemarie was born at Stanford Lane Hospital in San Francisco to Gust and Rose Karabochos. The family moved to Sonoma when Rosemarie was 10. She began working at her father’s store, Gus’s Fountain at Four Corners, and attended Sonoma Grammar School. She was a 1954 graduate of Sonoma Valley Union High School. She loved sports and excelled at playing baseball.

When the Karabochos family moved to Sonoma, Rosemarie met the boy next door, Ben Pedranzini, who taught her how to ride a bike. He later became her husband. They were married more than 60 years when Ben passed away in 2020. The couple had one child, Roxanne.

Rosemarie was a dedicated homemaker and caregiver to her family and friends in need, always putting loved ones before herself. She had a heart of gold and believed that whatever kindness she gave would return tenfold.

She was known as the “card lady” who never overlooked a birthday, anniversary, birth, death or opportunity to send well-wishes and cheer. Her much-appreciated cards always included a heartfelt, handwritten letter.

Always hardworking, Rosemarie spent many years working at Adobe Drug, first for Ray Duer and later for his son, Ron Duer. 

She loved her pets, shopping, going out to lunch and dinner, taking bus trips, reading (including three newspapers daily), traveling, visiting the ocean, dancing with Ben, laughing and riding with her son-in-law on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

She loved her community and donated her time to the Sonoma League for Historic Preservation and Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (she was a breast cancer survivor).

Rosemarie considered herself an activist and loved attending Sonoma City Council meetings to speak out on various issues. She was proud of her work on a committee that helped defeat the proposed Rosewood resort that developers hoped to build above Mountain Cemetery.

In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Roxanne and Rob Samson of El Verano, Rosemarie is survived by her brother, James J. Karabochos of Sonoma and her nieces, nephew and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother, Louis Karabochos. 

At her request, no services will be held. Inurnment will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to F.I.S.H., PO Box 507, Sonoma, CA 95476 or a favorite charity of your choice.

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